Day 246: Rejoice in Doing Good

Jeremiah 32:1-44 The Lord had Jeremiah buy a plot of land in Anathoth, his hometown, which by 587 BC was in the hands of the Babylonians. The gesture serves as a sign of the hope for a return from exile since the purchase of land implies settling on it. Matthew’s Gospel reveals that this purchase of land by Jeremiah and his earlier encounter with a potter are together fulfilled by the high priest’s purchase of the potter’s field, a burial place for the indigent, using the silver pieces Judas returned after having betrayed Christ (cf. Mt 27:3-10). 


Ch 32:10 Sealed it: A seal on a document signifies the authority of its author and authenticity under the law. In addition, it serves the purpose of keeping its contents secret. (CCC 1295)


Ch 32:17 God’s majesty and omnipotence are reflected in all of creation. (CCC 269)


Ch 32:27 God of all flesh: God is the Creator of all living things and gives special dignity to the human body through infusion of a spiritual soul. (CCC 1015)


The Book of Judith

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(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)


Judith 1-16 This book contains several historical inaccuracies, but its link to a particular moment in time is less important than the moral truths it conveys. Judith carries a message of hope and trust that all will be well if the people of Israel remain faithful to God and his covenant. 


Ch 1:1-16 This account is more allegorical than historical since Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, not Assyria. The invading army represents any foreign power that threatened the Jews. In this account, Nebuchadnezzar’s army sought allies for its military campaign, but none responded. When they won the war unaided, Nebuchadnezzar vowed revenge on all who did not ally themselves with him.


Ch 2:1-29 The timetable of the “eighteenth year” places this campaign at 587 BC, the date of the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. Around that time, Nebuchadnezzar identified himself as a deity that ultimately signified that he was the “lord of the whole earth” (2:5). The one true God was God of Israel; any other self-styled god is a blasphemous usurpation.

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)



Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven we give you praise and we thank you so much. Thank you for your Word. Thank you for the middle of The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. Thank you for the beginning of The Book of Judith. Thank you for your wisdom that you call us to walk in every day, your will that you call to walk in every day. Help us to walk this day and spend this day, to live this day in your hands, in your heart, and in your will saying YES to you in everything we plan and everything we carry out. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”